Aims: Asthma affects a large number of people worldwide and is characterized by chronic allergic airway
inflammation. Anatabine is a natural alkaloid that is structurally similar to nicotine and found in the Solanaceae
family of plants, with anti-inflammatory properties. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the potential
therapeutic effect of anatabine against asthma.
Main methods: Ovalbumin was used to induce asthma in rats. Two asthmatic groups were treated with low and
high doses of anatabine.
Key findings: Asthmatic animals experienced increased total leukocyte count and inflammatory cytokines in
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), bronchitis, and bronchopneumonia associated with mast cell infiltration.
Additionally, inducible nitric oxide synthase immunostaining was observed, with decreased pulmonary antioxidant capacity and enzymes and decreased Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression while increased NFκB-P65 expression.
Interestingly, asthmatic animals treated with anatabine at both doses showed dose-dependently decreased inflammatory cells and cytokine levels within BALF reduced inflammation in the airways through decreased mast
cell infiltration within lung tissues and increased antioxidant enzymes and Nrf2 and Ho-1 expression levels.
Significance: Our results highlight the potential beneficial effect of anatabine against asthma through antiinflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms. Therefore, anatabine is a promising candidate for pulmonary
asthma treatment.